Vacuum cleaner



OC- 17, 1939- c. L. BROWN, JR

VACUUM CLEANER- Filed Jan. 27. 1938 INVENTOR. BY M @wu/7,

MATTO V l Patented m17.193s

'PATENT OFFICE VACUUM CLEANER Charles L. Brown, Jr., Stamford, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation` of Delaware Application January 27, 1938, Serial No. 187,149

lClaims.

My invention` relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to a means of mounting a switch in a vacuum cleaner casing.

1, An object of -my invention islto provide an imr proved mounting for a vacuum cleaner switch to facilitate the assembly and removal of the switch. Another object of'my invention is to provide an enclosing casing for a lswitch harmonizing with the general design ofthe vacuum cleaner l0 and permitting ready access to'the switch.

. What I consider to be novel' and my invention maybe better understood by reference to the following speciilcation and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying l5 drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side view of a vacuum cleaner incorporating my improved switch mounting;

Fig. '2 is a sectional view of the switch mountins;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mounting strap;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a locking key; Fig. 6 is a view partly in section showing one step in the assembly of the switch and cover; and Fig. 7 is a. bottom view of the devices shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawing, I8 indicates a vacuum i cleaner unit connected to a cleaning tool II by means of a exible hose I2 with or without a substantially rigid tubular handle member I3.

Vacuum cleaner unit I0 is of the type that may f be moved around the surface on which it is sup- 35 ported by pulling on the flexible hose I2. For controlling the Aoperation of the vacuum cleaner unit III, switch I4 is provided mounted in a rear end housing I5. As best indicated in Fig. 2, switch I4 is provided with a button I6 which may be 40 operated by foot pressure to control the operation of the vacuumA cleaner unit I0. Leads I1 are connected to the switch I4. Two male terminals I8 are provided for connection to a source of A electrical supply. Switch I4 is secured in an opening I9 in rear end housing I5 by means of a `Ushaped strap 28. Strap is secured to switch I4 by means of a screw 2| in threaded engagement with a nut 22 located within the body f switch I4. As may 5 be seen by reference to Fig. 2, a handle 23 is con' nected to a ring 24 by means of a pin 25. A cover plate 26 harmonizing with the general design of the vacuum cleaner and presenting a smooth exterior encloses the portion of switch I4 which extends above the surface of housing I5 and is provided with two projecting arms 2-1 which surround the opposite sides of the handle pin 25. 'Ihe switch button I6 extends through an opening 28 in cover plate 26. A ferrule 29 is secured to cover plate 26 and extends around a portion of the terminals i8 to provide a smooth path for the entrance of a connector, not shown, for completing yconnections with terminals I8 and a source of electrical supply.

Switch I4 is provided with two side projections 10 v30 and an end projection 3|. Cover plate 26 is provided in the bottom with two inwardly extending shoulders 32. Shoulders 32 are adapted to rest on shoulders 33 integral with the housing I5 around the opening I9. Two U-shaped locking keys 34 are positioned between the shoulders 32 of the cover plate 26 and the side projections 3U of switch I4.

As best indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, the switch I4 and the cover plate 26 are assembled together by first depressing the button I6 and passing the switch from the left to the right as shown in Fig. 6 with the projections 30 of the switch I4 positioned above the shoulders 32 of cover plate 26. Switch I4 is moved to the right until the button 25 -I6 is in line with the opening 28. 'I'he switch I4 is then moved upwardly until the top of the switch engages the top surface of the cover plate 26. The two locking keys 34 are inserted between the pro- Jections 30 and the cover plate shoulders 32, lock- 30 ing switch I4 and cover plate 26 together. The assembly of the switch I4 and the cover plate 26 is inserted in the opening I9 of housing I5. The U-shaped strap 20 is inserted over the switch I4 within housing I5 with the bottom of the U 35 seated in a groove L35 in the bottom of switch I4. Screw 2| is passedthrough an aperture 36 in strap 20 and threaded into engagement with nut 22. The leads I1 are preferably connected to the switch I4 before it is secured to the housing I5. 40 However, it is possible to'connect the leads I1 at any step in the assembly of the switch I4 that may be desired. When the screw 2I is tightened, the strap 20 engages the bottom of shoulders 33 of housing I5 pulling the shoulders 32 of cover 45 plate 26 down against th shoulders 33, and also drawing the end projection 3l of switch I4 down against the housing I5 at 31 as shown in Fig. 2. To remove the switch I4 it is simply necessary to loosen the screw 2l and remove the strap 2U. The 50 leads Il may then be disconnected from switch I4 and the switch removed from the housing I5. The cover plate 26 may be removed from the switch I4 by removing the locking keys 34. The button I6 is depressed and the switch I4 moved to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, untilthe side projections 30 are free of the shoulders 32. The cover 26 may then be lifted from the switch i4.

What I claim` is:

1. In a vacuumcleaner, a housing having an opening, a switch mounted in said opening. a switch cover surrounding the portion of said switch extending beyond said housing, means for locking said cover to said switch, and a U-shaped strap secured to said switch and engaging the inside of said housing for securing said switch and said cover to said housing.

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a switch having projections, a/ switch cover having inwardly turned shoulders, U-shaped locking keys located between said switch projections and said cover shoulders for securing s aid cover to said switch, a housing having an opening to receive said switch, and a strap secured to said switch engaging said housingv for securing said switch and said cover to said housing.

3. In 'a vacuum cleaner, a housing having an opening, a switch mounted in said opening having end projections resting on said housing and side projections, a cover for the portion of said switch extending beyond said housing having inturned shoulders, keys located between said switch projections and said cover shoulders for locking said switch and cover together, leads connected to said switch, and a U-shaped strap secured to said switch and engaging said housing for rigidly securing said switch and said switch cover to said housing.

4. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing having an opening, a switch mounted in said opening having an end projection resting on said housing and side projections, a cover surrounding a portion of said switch extending beyond said housing having inturned shoulders and an opening, a switch button passing through said cover opening, locking keys located between said cover shoulders and'said switch side projections, leads connected to said switch, and a U-shaped strap secured to said switch and engaging said housing for securing said switch and said cover to said housing.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a housing having an opening, a switch mounted in said opening and having a portion extending beyond said housing, side projections extending from said switch without said housing, a cover for the portion of said switch extending beyond said housing having inturned shoulders, keys located between said switch projections and` said cover. shoulders for locking said switch and. cover together, and means for securing said switch and said switch cover to said housing.

CHARLES L. BROWN, JR. 

